Disinfecting Floors Can Cause Harm

According to floor care specialists, most facilities do not require a more rigorous floor care regimen to control infections, as long as their existing policies and practices are sound. This includes the use of disinfectants on floors, which is often superfluous as well as cost-prohibitive.

“Typically, people don’t disinfect floors unless those floors are in bathrooms or hospital settings,” says Scoles. “I don’t think that’s going to change moving forward because disinfecting floors is expensive, and it’s hard to accomplish if the disinfectant has a 10- or even a 5-minute kill claim. Removing germs and viruses from surfaces with an autoscrubber can be extraordinarily effective.”

Nevertheless, some facilities may choose to disinfect floors out of an abundance of caution. Hulin advises them not to be lulled into a false sense of security.

“It’s not like you’re putting down a secret sauce that kills everything on contact,” he says. “Disinfection kills germs, but the minute that evaporates, you have to start the process all over again. If you want to feel more secure, whether in a hospital or commercial environment, you can perform the floor care services more frequently. But the challenge becomes who’s going to pay for it? Fear is a great motivator, but it doesn’t open the pocketbook.”

While a return to attention on floor care is certainly welcomed, facility cleaning managers need to be keen on the functionality of their equipment, the correct setup in regards to pads and battery selection, and to what extent disinfection is truly necessary. For a refresher on these key factors, distributor or consultant guidance is a great place to start.

Kassandra Kania is a freelancer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is a frequent contributor to Facility Cleaning Decisions.